Valentine schirmer



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.v

VALENTINE SOHIRMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SASH-BALANCE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 516,687, dated March 20, 1894.

Application iiled May 10, 1893.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALENTINE SOHIRMER, of New York city, in the county and'Statevof New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sash-Balances, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descripion.

This invention relates to improvements in sash balances, of a type wherein a volute coiled spring is employed as a counterbalance for the weight of the window sash, and has for its objects to provide a novel and simple device of the character mentioned, which will be adapted 'for application to window frames of different dimensions, be capable of convenient adjustment for an increase in tensional force of its spring, and be enabled to receive a locking adjustment Which will retain the coiled springfrom relaxing when the sash balance is prepared to receive and sustain a window sash if used in pairs. Also to adapt the novel mechanism to receive an adj ustment which will permit the free introduction and removal of the window sash, and the ready production of a working connection between the sash and the novel counterbalancing devices that sustain said frame in a sliding condition within the window casement.

To these ends, my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

. Figure l is aside view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a side view of a main portion of the device with one side wall of its case removed, onthe line 2-2 in Fig. 5, showing interior parts adjusted to engage another part of the invention, shown broken and inlongitudinal section. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the spring balance device taken opposite the arrow 3, in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side view of parts, exposed when the case side wall is removed, on the line 2-2 in Fig. 5, and partly in section on the line 4 4 in said figure, the mechanism being changed in adjustment from the relaand its curved edge portion.

tive position of said parts shown in Fig. 2.

Serial No. 473,677. (No model.)

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the device, on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a plan view, in section on the line 6-6 in Fig. 2, showing the improved sash balance in position for service on a window easement and connected to a sash frame, shown broken and in section.

The external case which is provided to su pport the principal working parts ofthe device within it, is preferably cast from metal in two similar half sections A A, these equal portions having a contour substantially as shown, and when joined together as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, producing a chamber having parallel side walls and a mainly circular edge portion that has a straight edge a, joined to the curved part, said half sections of the case being held together by the-transverse screws a 0,2, the heads of which are shown in Fig. l. Duplicate oriiices are oppositely produced in the case side walls A, that are concentric with the curved edge Wall ot' the case, and of such a diameter as will permit the introduction therein of other parts which will presently be described. There is a toothed ring B, provided which is of a diameter proportioned to the interior dimensions'of the case walls A, so that it may be moved a suitable degree between the straight wall A', on the case,

A The peripherally toothed ring B, is provided with the'similar side plates b, that are circular on the edges and such arelative diameteraswill locate said edges near to the teeth of the ring when these parts are assembled, and to properly eect the latter, a suitable number of spaced ribs c, are formed on the inner surface of the toothed ring B, and made to project laterally therefrom at each side, providing dowel ends which enter mating holes in the inner sides of the plates b, whereby the latter are retained at proper points on the sides of the ring B. The volute spring C, is made of a correct length and strength to affordettective service, which springs should be proportioned in tensional force to the weight of the sash that is to be supported by them, when used in pairs for such service. The inner terminal of the volute spring C, is secured upon the arbor e, near the longitudinal center of the latter, and has its other end that is outermost, bent into hook form, and made to firmly interlock with one of the ribs c, as shown in Fig. 4.

A yoke frame is furnished for the support of the toothed ring B, and attached parts that have been described, said frame comprising two arms g, that are bent toward each other and then upwardly in parallel planes leaving a s pace between which is lled by a spacing swlvel block g', that is pivoted by trunnion ends 1n holes formed in the upper end portions of the arms as indicated in Fig. 5. On the lower end portions of the yoke frame-arms g, which are sufficiently spaced apart to loosely embrace the side plates b, the similar fiat hub plates g2, are formed; said hub plates are circular and of a diameter which will permit them to respectively tit into the circular apertures cut in the side walls of the case pieces A, A, and be adapted for a rotatable movement therein, each hub plate having a radial fiange formed on its inneredge, which flanges have a loose contact with the inner sides of the case pieces A, which will maintain the yoke frame in proper connection with the case of the device. The hub plates g2, are secured upon the side plates b, eccentrically with regard to the center of the latter, and as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5, said eccentricity locates the hub plates near the upper edge of the gear ring B, when the parts are assembled for use. The end portions of the arbor e, are preferably given a rectangular form and are secured in mating holes formed in the side plates b, and the attached hub plates g2, said holes being produced near the centers of the side plates b.

The straight edges a of the two case half sections A, Aare provided to receive the escutcheon plate A that is a part of the case when secured to the sections mentioned, and consists of a fiat metallic piece of elongated rectangular form, the length of which is so proportioned to the vertical dimensions of the parts A, that when joined to them said plate A', will project a proper distance beyond the case proper at its top and bottom sides, screw holes being formed in said projecting portions, to permit the plate A', to be afixed upon a window stile when the device is placed thereon. A longitudinal slot h is formed in the escutcheon plate A', at the transverse center, which slot is intended to permit a portion of the toothed ring B to pass outwardly through it as represented in Fig. 2. The escutcheon plate A', has a bracket flange t', pro jected from its face that engages the straight edges aot the case sections A,-said fiauges having such a location as will permit the similar lateral fianges t', to have a loose contact with its top surface; these lateral fianges being projections from the inner surfaces of the case sections A, A, join at the transverse center of the bracket flange and together form a vertical wall, thus producing a small box-like inclosure above the horizontal wall of the bracket flange t', as represented in Fig. 2. There is an upright slot formed in the fianges il', where they impinge, that is of a correct size to admit the pull bar to pass through and freely reciprocate therein, which bar has its inner end loosely secured to revolve in the trunnioned swivel block g', the outer end of the bar having a ring eye 7c', formed on it. The bracket flange t', has two similar depending portions t2, formed on it as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, which flange portions are oppositely perforated for the passage of the screw a2, that serves to retain the upper part of the escutcheon plate A', secured to the case portions A, the lower parts of the latter being clamped on the escutcheon plate in a way that will be hereinafter explained. It will be seen that if the pull bar la, is drawn outwardly through an orifice m, formed in the plate A', the yoke frame and toothed ring B, will be rocked from the slot i, and the entire ring with the frame will be caused to recede from the escutcheon plate.

A flat plate D, is provided for each spring balance, which plate is perforated at spaced intervals as indicated at n, in Fig. 2, wherea part of said plate is shown, the degree of separation and form of these perforations adapting the plate D, to serve as a rack with which the teeth of the ring B, may be caused to engage.

It is intended that a rack plate such as D, of a suitable length, be furnished for each side edge of a window sash E which is to be balanced with duplicate devices such as has been described, which racks D, are affixed so that the spring balance devices may be caused to have an opposite meshed engagement with them, and so support the sash that it may be slid in the casement. The rack plates D are used in preference to racks having projecting teeth, as this construction of the racks takes up butlittle room between the stiles and sash, and affords smooth surfaces for the reciprocation of the sash.

The connection of the volute spring C, `witl1 the arbor e, and toothed ring B, is such as will cause the weight of an imposed sash to wrap said spring more closely on its arbor, and to prepare said spring for service as a sash balance, a loose rack plate D, is applied to the projected teeth of the ring B, and drawn downwardly thereon, which will increase the supporting power of each spring so wound, which should be equally effected in a pair of the im-V proved sash balance devices that are required to sustain sash and facilitate its free reciprocation as before mentioned.

It is necessary to provide means for the retention of the toothed ring B, in meshed connection with a rack plate such as D, and also to adapt such a locking device for a quick and convenient release therefrom. To this end, the pull bar 7c, has two'opposite ribs 7a2, formed on it at a proper point to impinge on the inner l'IO surface of the lateral flanges 1I', after the pull bar is pushed rearwardlya proper degree and the teeth of the gear ring B, are sufficiently projected, said engagement ot` the ribs being produced by a rotatable movement of the pull bar that will dispose the ribs vertically, a quarter turn of the pull bar releasing the same and permitting the yoke frame and ring B, to be rearwardly moved a proper degree to retract the latter and locate it entirely within the case A, A', as represented in Fig. 4:; the ribs k3, being projected from the'pull bar at a proper point to lock the bar extended as shown in said gure. When the volute spring C, is coiled to increase its tensional force, it is necessary at times to retain it from a recoil movement; for this purpose a locking device for the toothed ring B, is provided, consisting of the sliding plate o, that has teeth o', formed on its upper edge, said plate resting against the escutcheon plate A', is seated when not in use, upon the bottom ot' the case A. The sides of the plate o, are loosely embraced by the twin crank arms p, which are joined together at their outer ends with a journal pin p', which loosely engages a horizontal slot p2, that is cut in the plate o, in parallel with the lo'wer edgeof the latter, as represented inv Fig. 4. The crank arms p, are each furnished with a trunnion 103 which projects oppositely and loosely engage perforations in the parallel bracket vilanges r, that project from the escutcheon plate A', and have aloose contact with the sides of the case sections A, and crank arms p, between which parts these flan ges are inserted. A single screw hole is formed in each bracket flange fr, which holes are aligned with opposite screw holes formed in the sides of the case sections A, A, so that a screw a', may be insertedfrom one side of the case through the holes in the anges fr, and be vscrewed into a tapped hole in the other side wall of the case, which will attach the lower end portion of the escutcheon plate A', firmly upon the straight edges of the case sections near the lower edges of the latter. One trunnion p3, is squared on its outer end and projects within a perforation oppositely formed in the side wall of a case section A, the squared portion of said trunnion' being adapted for the reception of a k'ey F, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 6, which by a rotatable movement will project the toothed edge of the looking plate' o, into engagementwith the teeth of the ring B, as represented by dotted lines in Fig. 4, or remove these teeth from a locking engagement with a toothed ring as indicated by full lines in the same figure, so

-that when a spring C, has been suiciently wound upon its arbor e, by use of a rack plate D, the force of the spring may bek prevented from relaxing by an interlocking connection of the plate o, with the toothed ring B.

When the improved sash balancing device, is to be secured in pairs upon the stiles of a window casement,there is asuitable excavation produced in each stile G, as indicated in Fig. '6, which will permit the complete embed` ment ot' the case of the device, and the seating of the plate A', in a shallow recess made for it. The plates A', should'then be screwed fast to the stile G, and as the sash` balances are oppositely located,it will be seen that when a window sash that is designed to traverse the easement is placed within and its racks D, engaged with the toothed rings B, the sash may be slid and supported by the balancing devices.

The provision of the locking plate o, and its connections that adapt it for an elevation or depression, is of particular advantage when the springs of a pair of the improved sash balancing devices are adj usted for the weight of the sash, that has not as yet been placed in the easement of the window.

The introduction ot" which sash may be readily eected, if the toothed rings B, are retracted, which will permit the sash to be laterally slid into place, and the terminals of the attached plates D, brought opposite the slots in the escutcheon plates A', when the pull bars Zt, may be manipulated to project the toothed rings B, outwardly through the slots in the plates A', and then be turned to retain them so adjusted, which will throw the weight of the sash upon the springs C, that willcounterbalance it, and permit its free vertical movement.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A sash balance, comprising a case slotted at the front, a toothed ring within, eccentrically supported on side plates arranged to rock in opposite perforations of the case sides, a volute spring within the ring and connected by one end thereto, a transverse arbor fastened to the spring and at the ends to the side plates, and a device to rock the ring on its eccentric supports and project it through the case or retract it, ,substantially as described.

2. A sash balance, comprising a bisected case, and an attachable slotted escutcheon plate, a toothed ring, side plates therefor, an arbor, a volute spring within the ring,ayoke frameeccentrically connected to the ring and IOC a'rotatable pull bar adapted to rock the i toothed ring toward or from the slotted plate, and by a partial rotation of said bar lock the ring projected or retracted, substantially as described.

3. A sash balance comprising a bisected case, an att-achable slotted escutcheon plate, a toothed ring within, side plates interlocked with the ring, a volutespring in the ring and attached by one end thereto, a transverse ar bor fast to the inner end of the spring and secured to the side plates, and a yoke frame,

`hub plates of which are eccentrically secured on these side plates, and loosely engage opposite apertures in the sides ot the case, substantially as described.

4. In a sash balance, having a spring pressed toothed ring within a case, and adapted for a partial rotary and rocking movement t0- ward or from a slotted plate that is the front of said case, a locking device for the toothed ring comprising a toothed slide plate, and two trunnioned crank arms having a connect ing cross-pin engaged with a slot in the slideplate and adapted by manipulation to move the teeth of the slide plate toward or from the toothed ring, substantially as described.'

VALENTINE SCHIRMER.

Witn esses WM. P. PATTON, E. M. CLARK. 

